The Ocean On Their Shoulders

Chapter 35

The Tribune was always the least of their problems. After having made things right between them, the articles that followed from their previous "cheating scandal" were tacky but rolled off their shoulders easily. Besides, they couldn't waste any sort of time trying to sort the rumors, not when they had a threat from Ryan hanging over their heads. A threat that could dismantle several month's worth of progress. Good thing they always had an ace up their sleeves. 

~*~

"Are either of you able to explain this?"

Jane looked over her shoulder from where she was preparing breakfast at the stove, her attention to the newspaper in question that Reggie was holding up. Frank also diverted his gaze from the coffee machine to the article, a yawn interrupting his answer.

"Oh, don't worry about that, Reggie." Jane was quicker to the punch. "That whole thing was all a misunderstanding." She returned to flipping the bacon accompanying Jack's omelet, the smokey maple aroma filling the kitchen.

Reggie scoffed, "A misunderstandin'?" he slapped the paper onto the island counter, the sudden sharp noise startling Jack and causing the forkful of his omelet to plop back on his plate. "Apparently, it's a big enough misunderstandin' for it to be plastered all over the Tribune."

"Reg, it's fine." Frank finally spoke up after taking a sip of his coffee. "Was just gettin' some information from Silvia at the party, that's all. Wasn't flirtin' with her or anythin'."

The other man gave Frank a quirk of his brow. "Ok, what about Jane an' Fitzpatrick?"

Frank stopped with the rim of his mug to his lips, side-eyeing Jane with a small shrug.

"Like I said," She turned with the bacon ready to serve onto Jack's plate. "Just a misunderstanding. We also both happened to have seen Stanely taking photos and decided to play him up a bit. Just for fun."

Reggie huffed another breath, "So the Tribune's just blowin' this all outta proportion?"

"Don't they always?" She shrugged, "Besides, if Frank had done something that really pissed me off, I obviously wouldn't be making breakfast for him this morning." Making her point, she set two servings of eggs and bacon on the island, one for each of them.

Frank was quick to grab one of the plates while commenting rather boldly, "Oh yeah, she took care of me yesterday, wasn't able to walk for a bit after."

Jane's jaw dropped, immediately reaching to swipe at him with a dishtowel while scowling at him. She gave a quick nod to Jack as a warning not to get into that in front of the kid. Frank only chuckled, dodging the dishtowel by mere inches.

Reggie took the other plate with a bit of concern still riddling his features. "So, you two are alright then? Don't gotta worry about separation' you if a fight breaks out?"

"Nah," Frank took a few tentative steps towards Jane to place a quick kiss along her cheek. "We're ok."

Rolling her eyes, Jane at least took to placing a fork on his plate as Frank thanked her and made his way out of the kitchen while calling over his shoulder. "See you at the labs, Doll." They watched him leave the kitchen, most likely heading back to his office to take care of some things before getting ready for the day.

Jane smiled to herself with a shake of her head. She wasn't sure if Reggie could see it, but the vexation was palpable beneath those hazy blue eyes. Ryan was sure to hear from Fontaine this morning while sipping on his morning cup of Joe. She wouldn't blame him, Jane tried to make it seem like the Tribune's front page headline and photo didn't phase her either. But the obvious and rather bold headline stating, Adultery Goes Both Ways Beneath the Waves, couldn't be ignored as it took up a majority of the page with damning photos of both her and Frank with Silvia and Fitzpatrick accompanying it. Neither element was forgiving, and it had her rolling her eyes so hard that they threatened to get stuck at the back of her skull.